Image forming apparatus using a photosensitive drum and having light quantity adjustment

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus for scanning a light beam modulated in accordance with image information using a rotational polygon mirror comprises a light beam generator for generating the light beam, an adjuster for adjusting the light quantity of the light beam generated by the light beam generator, a driver for driving the rotational polygon mirror in rotation, and a detector for detecting whether the rotational number of the rotational polygon mirror reaches a predetermined rotation number within a predetermined time. The light quantity adjuster starts the light quantity adjustment after the start of driving of the rotational polygon mirror with the driver, and before the rotation number of the rotational polygon mirror reaches the predetermined rotation number.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/782,384,filed Oct. 24, 1991, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming an image byscanning the light beam.

2. Related Background Art

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the constitution of suchan image forming apparatus, wherein 1 is a photosensitive drum which isan electrostatic latent image carrier, 2 is a semiconductor laser whichis a light source, 3 is a polygon scanner for scanning the light beam, 4is an optical lens, 5 is a charger roller for uniformly charging thephotosensitive drum 1, 6 is a developer for developing an electrostaticlatent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 with a toner, 7 is atransfer roller for transferring a toner image formed on thephotosensitive drum 1 onto a paper of recording medium, 8 is a fixerroller for fixing the toner transferred onto the paper, 9 is a papercassette for stacking papers, 10 is a paper feed roller for feeding apaper within the paper cassette 9 into a paper conveying passage, 11 isa paper detecting sensor (resist sensor) for detecting the paper fedtherein, 12 is a resist roller for synchronizing the application ofimage data onto the photosensitive drum 1 with the feeding of paper, aswell as correcting for an oblique movement of paper because the paperwill abut once against the roller, and 13 is a paper discharge sensorfor sensing the paper discharged.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining one example of a control systemof the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, wherein 14 is a hostcomputer which sends out code data of image to a print controller 15.The print controller 15 monitors the state of a printer engine ordirects the operation condition, as well as expanding the code data ofimage into a predetermined bit map data. A print control unit 16 is tocontrol each mechanism of the printer engine based on instructions ofthe printer controller 15, each mechanism sending out necessary data tothe print control unit 16 and operating with instructions of the printcontrol unit 16. The mechanism is composed of a paper feed driver 17, ahigh voltage driver 18, a scanner motor driver 19, and a laser driver20. The paper feed driver 17 supplies the information of sensors 22 suchas a paper detecting sensor to the print control unit 16, as well asdriving or stopping rollers 21 based on instructions of the printcontrol unit 16. The high voltage driver 18 drives or stops a heater ina fixer 26, as well as drives or stops each high voltage of a charger23, a developer 24, and a transfer unit 25 with instructions of theprint control unit 16. And it returns the temperature information of theheater necessary for controlling the print control unit 16. The scannermotor driver 19 returns the information of whether or not the scannermotor 27 reaches a predetermined rotation number, as well as drives orstops the scanner motor 27 with the instruction of the print controlunit 16. 28 is a laser driver for turning on or off a semiconductorlaser, not shown, based on the print data. 29 is a laser adjuster fordetecting the quantity of a laser light emitted and returning a detectedoutput to the laser driver 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a print sequence in a conventional imageforming apparatus will De described below.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one example of a printing procedure in theimage forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 1. Note that (1) to (17) showeach step.

If the power is turned on, its own memory such as RAM or each mechanismis first initialized (1). Next, the fixer heater is warmed up at apredetermined temperature (2). If the warming up has been completed, itis placed in a state of receiving a print request from the printcontroller 15. If a print request signal is received (4), the drive ofscanner motor 27 (5) is started by issuing an instruction for startingthe drive of scanner motor 27, and the drive of carrier motor is startedby issuing an instruction for starting the drive of carrier motor (6).Then, the high voltage driver 18 directs the set-up of each high voltageof charger 23, developer 24 and transfer unit 25 (7). Next, adetermination is made whether or not the 10 scanner motor 27 has beenset up at a predetermined number of rotations (8), in which if thenumber of rotations reaches a predetermined one and a scanner ready isreceived from the scanner motor driver 19, the adjustment of laser lightquantity is started to set up at a predetermined value (9). If the lightquantity reaches a predetermined level (10), an instruction for feedinga paper from the paper cassette 9 is issued (11). Then the procedurewaits for the paper to reach a disposed position of resist sensor 11(12), and if the paper reaches the disposed position of resist sensor11, the procedure waits for a predetermined period of T1 sec to correctfor the oblique movement (13). And the paper feed roller 10 is stopped,and a vertical synchronizing request signal that is an image outputsynchronizing signal is issued to the print controller 15 (14). If thevertical synchronizing signal is received from the print controller 15(15), the print is started by applying the laser beam onto thephotosensitive drum 1 (16). Next, if the paper discharge sensor 13detects a paper discharged (17), one page print is terminated bystopping each driver.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining one example of the printsequence in the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 1. Note that t1to t7 indicate each timing.

If the power is turned on (t1), the heater temperature of fixer roller 8is set up at a predetermined one (t2). Then if a print request signal isreceived (t3), the operation is placed in a scanner ready state (t4), sothat the pick up of a paper is started (t5). Then, if the verticalsynchronizing signal is received (t6), the print processing is started,and if the paper discharge sensor 13 detects a paper discharged (t7),one page print is terminated by stopping each driver.

However, the above conventional example had a problem that the time froma standby state via the reception of a print request to the printtermination (referred to as a first print time) was long, because thecarrier motor and the scanner motor 27 were started (t3) after thereception of the print request, and further the laser light quantityadjustment was started after waiting for the scanner to reach apredetermined rotation number (t4).

Also, this type of recording apparatus first performed the printpreparatory operation if it receives a print start request signal (printrequest signal PRINT), and subsequently performed the print operation.Particularly, a laser beam printer (LBP) was constituted in thefollowing way. An image signal transmit control unit (controller)transmits a print signal to enable the LBP to perform the printoperation. And if it receives an image signal transmit request signal(vertical synchronizing request signal VSNREQ) from the LBP, it outputsan image transmit synchronizing signal (vertical synchronizing signalVSYNC), and transmits an image signal in synchronism with a main scansynchronizing signal (main scan synchronizing signal BD) for forming theimage which is received from the LBP.

On the other hand, if the LBP receives the print request signal, itstarts the print operation at the timing not affecting a printpreparatory operation, as well as starting the print preparatoryoperation. That is, the rotation control (forward rotation control) ofthe photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) is performed for thepurpose to place the photosensitive member into an electrostaticallystable state by applying a high voltage as the print preparatoryoperation, light quantity adjusting means (laser APC) is operated forsetting the laser light source at a predetermined light quantity, or apolygon mirror scanning motor (scanner motor) which is a light scanningdevice within a scan optical system is set up at a desired scan speed tocause the light source to be scanned at a certain scan speed. Besidesthe print preparatory operation, a print paper is fed at a desiredtiming in accordance with the end timing of print preparatory operationfor the print operation. Near the end timing of print preparatoryoperation, the vertical synchronizing request signal VSNREQ and thevertical synchronizing signal VSYNC are transmitted and/or received, andan image developed on the photosensitive member is synchronized with theprint paper (resist adjustment).

Here, the specific timings in the LBP will be described with referenceto FIGS. 5A & 5B.

FIGS. 5A & 5B are timing charts for explaining a resist adjustingprocessing in this kind of recording apparatus, with the axis ofordinates showing the rotation number (rpm) of the scanner motor and theaxis of abscissas showing the time (sec).

In FIGS. 5A & 5B, if a print request signal PRINT is received, theprerotation control and the setup of the scanner motor at a set rotationnumber are first performed. Then at the timing when both operations arecompleted, the set-up of the laser light quantity is performed at adesired light quantity. At this adjustment timing for the lightquantity, firstly, the laser light set-up must be necessarily performedwhen the laser is scanned by the rotation of the scanner motor, becauseif the light beam is concentrated at a point on the surface ofphotosensitive member when the light quantity is applied, thephotosensitive characteristics at its portion are significantly degradedso that the image quality may be decreased. Secondly, if the light isapplied with the laser light set-up, the photosensitive drum may beexposed to the light, and developed with the developer unit if leftaway, so that a developing powder may stick onto a transfer roller,making dirty the transfer roller, and thus a back face of print paper,which may significantly degrade the print quality, whereby thedeveloping action must be prevented by turning off the development biasat the timing when an exposed drum face is brought to the developer unit(this processing is referred to as a postprocessing for laser lightquantity adjustment). But since the development bias could not be turnedoff in the prerotation control, it was necessary to make different thephase between prerotation control period, laser light quantity step andprocessing control period. As above described, the print preparatoryoperation was started at the timing when the scanner motor was rotatingand the postprocessing control for the laser light quantity adjustmentdid not overlap the prerotation control. Accordingly, the paper feedtiming of a print paper was started at a timing 3.3 sec before the endtiming of print preparatory operation (a timing after the passage of 5.5sec from the reception of print request signal PRINT) as shown in FIGS.5A & 5B.

However, with the constitution of the above constitutional example, ifthe time from the reception of print signal PRINT to the discharge ofprint paper (first print time) was calculated, it would be extended bythe amount of print preparatory operation (about 2.2 sec) beyond anactual paper conveying time of this LBP.

Accordingly, there was a problem with the LBP which was associated withmore intermittent print operations than continuous print operations,that the life of photosensitive member might be decreased, because therotation of photosensitive member would be increased in proportion tothe number of prints (it is said that the life of photosensitive memberis proportional to its rotation time).

As shown in FIGS. 5A & 5B, the most consuming time in the printpreparatory operation is a required time for setting up the rotation ofscanner motor at a set scanning speed, and the time for which the scanspeed is judged to have been stabilized. In the LBP, it is set at 3.2sec by ability. That is, the most important factor in determining theprint preparatory operation is a time for setting up the scanner motorrotation at a set scan speed, and a scan speed stabilization time forwhich the scan speed becomes stable. The set up time of scanner motorrotation can be improved by manipulating the motor drive current.However, the time for the stabilization of scan speed depends on theenvironmental condition at the service or variations of each device, andin practice, the scan speed stabilization time amounting to apredetermined greatest required time (which was often set at 1 sec inthe LBP) was needed.

On the other hand, in recent recording apparatuses, the first print timeholds a very important position as one item for the comparison ofperformance of recording apparatus, and may determine the performance ofrecording apparatus depending on the first print time. That is, inincreasingly intensive development competitions, it is of urgentnecessity in the present situation to shorten the first print timewithout sacrificing the performance, reliability or life of recordingapparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentionedtechnical problems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recordingapparatus which allows the first print time to be shortened byinitiating the set-up of light quantity control for a light source,before a scan optical system has been set up at a desired scan speed.Also, it is another object of the present invention to provide arecording apparatus which allows the first print time to be largelyshortened, in such a manner as to determine any scan speed stabilizationtime for a scan optical system by detecting a changing condition of thescan speed in the scan optical system, after the scan speed of the scanoptical system has reached a desired scan speed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be moreapparent from the following detailed description and claims, and withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the mechanical configuration ofa general image forming apparatus by the use of an electrophotographicsystem.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of acontrol system in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one example of a print processingprocedure in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing one example of a print sequence in theimage forming apparatus. FIGS. 5A and 5B, are timing charts forexplaining a conventional sequence control at the start of printing.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of acontrol system in the first to third examples of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 7A, and 7B, are control flowcharts in a first example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart for explaining the operation in the firstexample of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart for explaining the operation in a variation ofthe first example of the present invention.

FIGS. 10 & 10A-10C, are control flowcharts in a second example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart for explaining the operation in the secondexample of the present invention.

FIGS. 12, 12A, and 12B, are flowcharts showing one example of a printprocessing procedure with a print control unit in a third example.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart for explaining one example of a print sequencewith a print controller in the third example.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of acontrol system in an image forming apparatus in a fourth example.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing one example of essential procedure for aprint processing in the image forming apparatus of the fourth example.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of essential parts for explaining theconfiguration of a recording apparatus in a fifth example of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C are timing charts showing the set-upcharacteristics of a scanner motor as shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing one example of a predetermined procedurefor scanner motor setup control in the recording apparatus as shown inFIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing one example of a predetermined procedurefor scanner motor set-up control in a recording apparatus in a sixthexample of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram for essential parts for explaining theconfiguration of a recording apparatus in a seventh example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing one example of a predetermined procedurefor scanner motor set-up control in the recording apparatus as shown inFIG. 20.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are a series of flowcharts showing one example of acontrol procedure for the light quantity adjustment start timing in therecording apparatus in an eighth example of the present invention.

FIGS. 23A and 23B are a series of flowcharts showing one example of acontrol procedure for the light quantity adjustment start timing in therecording apparatus in the eighth example of the present invention.

FIGS. 24A and 24B, are timing charts for explaining the controlprocedure of a recording apparatus in the eighth and ninth examples.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an essential configuration of arecording apparatus in a tenth example of the present invention.

FIGS. 26A and 26B are a series of flowcharts showing one example of athird control procedure for the light quantity adjustment start timingin the recording apparatus in the tenth example of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 27A and 27B are a series of flowcharts showing one example of thethird control procedure for the light quantity adjustment start timingin the recording apparatus in the tenth example.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing essential parts of a recordingapparatus in an eleventh example of the present invention.

FIGS. 29A and 29B are a series of flowcharts showing one example of afourth control procedure for the light quantity adjustment start timingin the recording apparatus in the eleventh example.

FIGS. 30A and 30B are a series of flowcharts showing one example of thefourth control procedure for the light quantity adjustment start timingin the recording apparatus in the eleventh example.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing an essential configuration of arecording apparatus in a twelfth example of the present invention.

FIGS. 32A and 32B are a series of flowcharts showing one example of afifth control procedure for the light quantity adjustment start timingin the recording apparatus in the twelfth example.

FIGS. 33A and 33B are a series of flowcharts showing one example of thefifth control procedure for the light quantity adjustment start timingin the recording apparatus in the twelfth example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred examples will be described below with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

First example

The schematic view of an image forming apparatus which is applied to thefirst example of the present invention is the same as shown in theconventional example as previously described (FIG. 1), and theexplanation of each function will be omitted here.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for a control system for controlling eachmechanism in the first example.

14 is a host computer which sends out code data of image to a printcontroller 15. The print controller 15 monitors the state of a printerengine 31 or directs the operation condition, as well as expanding thecode data of image into a predetermined bit map. A print control unit 16is to control each of mechanisms 17 to 20 in a printer based on aninstruction of the printer controller 15, each of mechanisms 17 to 20sending out necessary data to the print control unit 16 and operatingwith instructions of the print control unit 16. The mechanisms 17 to 20are a paper feed driver 17, a high voltage driver 18, a scanner motordriver 19, and a laser driver 20, respectively. The paper feed driver 17supplies the information of sensors 22 such as a paper detecting sensor11 to the print control unit 16, as well as driving or stopping rollers21 based on instructions of the print control unit 16. The high voltagedriver 18 drives or stops a heater in a fixer 26, as well as drives orstops each high voltage of a charger 23, a developer 24, and a transferunit 25 with instructions of the print control unit 16. And the fixer 26returns the temperature information of the heater necessary forcontrolling the print control unit 16. The scanner motor driver 19returns the information of whether or not the scanner motor 27 reaches apredetermined rotation number, as well as drives or stops the scannermotor 27 with an instruction of the print control unit 16. A laserdriver 20 emits the laser beam based on a laser light-up signal sentfrom the print control unit 16, and a laser adjuster 29 returns thelight quantity information necessary for the adjustment of laser lightquantity to the print control unit 16. 30 is a scanner ready memory unitfor storing the indication of a scanner ready status when the scannerready status is returned within a predetermined time from the scannerdriver 19 after a scanner drive command is issued to the scanner motordriver 19 during the set-up of the fixer heater 26 after turning on thepower.

FIGS. 7A & 7B are flowcharts showing the operation of the print controlunit 16 from the power on to the print of one page.

If the power is turned on, (a1) the printer is first initialized (1),and (b1) the warm up of the fixer heater is started. Further, (c1) thedrive of the scanner motor is started, and at the same time (d1) a timerfor detecting the scanner motor failure is started. When the scannerdoes not become ready even if the timer is counted up, the failureprocessing is performed, and when it becomes ready, (e1) the content ofthe scanner ready memory unit 30 referred to as a SCN₋₋ RDY flag isstored as "1", and at the same time the drive of the scanner motor isstopped. And (f1) if the fixer heater has become ready, (g1) theprocedure is placed in a print request waiting state. If a print requestis received, (h1) the start of the scanner motor, (i1) the start of thecarrier motor, and (j1) the set-up of high voltage for charging areperformed, and (k1) the adjustment of laser light quantity is started ifthe content of the SCN₋₋ RDY flag is "1". Then, (l1) if the adjustmentof laser light quantity is ended, (m1) after the passage of apredetermined time T₂ (sec), (n1) each high voltage for the developmentand transfer is sequentially set up. And (o1) the pick-up of a paper isstarted at the timing when the scanner becomes ready, and then the printprocessing is performed in the same way as in step (l1) and followingsteps shown in FIG. 3 in the conventional example. Here, the reason whythe development and transfer at (n1) is performed after the completionof light quantity adjustment is that a latent image on thephotosensitive drum 1 caused by the laser light emitted in adjusting thelight quantity is prevented from developing and the transfer roller isnot made dirty. Accordingly, this can be also achieved with anothermethod in which the development and transfer is once set up before theadjustment of light quantity, and the high voltage for development isturned off for a period corresponding to the position of thephotosensitive drum for which the light quantity adjustment has beenmade. The timing chart for the former is shown in FIG. 8, while that forthe latter is shown in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 8, if the power is turned on at the timing s1, the fixer heaterbecomes ready at the timing s2, and a print request signal is receivedat the timing s3. Then the scanner motor ready and the paper pick-up areboth started at the timing s4, a vertical synchronizing signal isreceived at the timing s6, and the paper discharge is ended at thetiming s7. Accordingly, the adjustment of light quantity will beperformed at the timings s3 to s4 (before a scanner ready is output), sothat the timing corresponding to that from t4 to t5 (FIG. 4) isshortened as compared with the conventional example. Note that thedevelopment is performed at the timing s4 or subsequent timings in thisexample.

FIG. 9 shows a timing chart of the control when the high voltage fordevelopment is turned off at the timing corresponding to a position onthe photosensitive drum on which the adjustment of light quantity hasbeen made. In this case, it is also possible to shorten the periodcorresponding to the timings t4 to t5 in the conventional example,because the timing of development and transfer is only different fromthat of FIG. 8.

Since the scanner motor can be sufficiently set up to a ready stateduring a warm-up period of the heater, with the warm-up of the fixerheater being ten seconds to several tens seconds, and the set-up of thescanner motor being about several seconds, for example, as abovedescribed, the first print time can be shortened in a period from thepower on to a print request receiving enable state without having anyeffect in this example.

FIGS. 10A-10C are operation flowcharts of print control unit in thesecond example of the present invention. The printer engine and thecontrol block diagram are the same as in the first example previouslyshown. Here, there is shown a processing where a print request signal isnot received during a predetermined time when the printer is in a printrequest waiting state.

First, (a2) when there is no print request in a standby state, i.e., inthe print request waiting state, (b2) a scanner check request timer ofT₃ (sec) which has been preset is referred. If the count has not beencompleted, it is checked again whether or not there is any printrequest, while if the count has been completed, (c2) the scanner motoris started. At the same time, (d2) the scanner motor failure detectiontimer is started, and if the scanner motor does not become ready by thetime when the failure timer is counted up, (e2) the SCN₋₋ RDY flag isset to 0, and (f2) a predetermined scanner motor failure processing ismade. When the scanner motor becomes ready before the failure timer iscounted up, (g2) the SCN₋₋ RDY flag is set to 1, and (h2) the scannermotor is stopped. Also, (i2) the scanner check request timer T₃ (sec)for the next check is set. If a print request is received during thescanner check, the procedure transfers to the carrier motor driveprocessings such as (j2), (k2) and (12) via 1 and enters the printoperation. Note that when the print request is received at (a2), theprint operation is performed in the same way as in the first example. Atthe time when the print is completed, (m2) the scanner check requesttimer T₃ (sec) is set again, and the procedure is placed in the printwaiting state.

As described, in this example, only when the print waiting statecontinues for T₃ (sec), the scanner motor is driven, and then it ischecked whether or not the scanner motor is ready, so that the lateststate of the SCN₋₋ RDY flag can be held at all times. This control isshown with a timing chart in FIG. 11.

In the figure, the power is turned on at the timing r1, and the fixerheater becomes ready at the timing r2. At the timing r3 after thepassage of T₃ (sec) from the fixer heater ready and thus the printwaiting state, the scanner motor is driven, and stopped when the scannerbecomes ready. At the timing r4, a print request is received, and at thetiming r5, one page of print is completed. From this time, the scannercheck request timer is started again. And at the timing r6 after thepassage of T₃ (sec), the scanner motor is driven again and confirmed forthe ready state.

In this example, the scanner motor is checked for the ready state atfixed intervals of T₃ (sec), even in the print request waiting statewhere the state of scanner motor can not be confirmed, so that thelatest data (SCN₋₋ RDY) can be held at all times, thereby enhancing thereliability in driving the scanner with the adjustment of light quantityat actual print. Also, based on the flowchart of FIG. 10, the procedurecan transfer immediately to the print sequence even if the print requestis received during the rotation of the scanner due to the scanner check,so that the first print time can be improved without having any adverseeffect on the print operation.

While in the first and second examples, the paper pick-up operation isperformed after entering the scanner ready state, there are some typesof printers that the paper pick-up operation is performed along with thedriving of the scanner and carrier motors after the receipt of printrequest, the paper is awaited at the position of a resist roller fromthe scanner ready until the completion of light quantity adjustment, andthen a vertical synchronizing signal is output after the completion oflight quantity adjustment. For such a type of printer, it is alsopossible to improve the first print time by performing the first andsecond examples. Furthermore, as the scanner failure can be detectedwith the scanner ready flag (SCN₋₋ RDY flag) prior to the pick-up ofpaper (the set-up of scanner motor), a new effect arises that when theprint request arrives, the paper will not be picked up wastefully.

As above described, by providing a feature of confirming beforehand thatthe scanner motor can be driven at a predetermined rotation number andstoring that confirmation, it is possible to perform the adjustment oflaser light quantity before the scanner ready, which conventionallycould be made only in the scanner ready, so that it is possible tolargely shorten the period from the standby state through the receipt ofprint request to the completion of print (first print time), therebysignificantly contributing to a higher performance of the printer.

Third example

FIGS. 12A & 12B are flowcharts showing one example of a printingprocedure in the third example of the present invention. The electricalconstitution of this example is the same as in the first example (FIG.6), and the explanation will be omitted. Note that (1) to (26) show eachstep.

If the power is turned on, its own memory such as RAM or each mechanismis first initialized, the fixer heater is warmed up at a predeterminedtemperature, and the procedure is placed in a state where a printrequest from the print controller 15 is received. If a print requestsignal is received (1), the drive of carrier motor and scanner motor 27is started (2), (3), and each high voltage of charger 23, developer 24,transfer unit 25 and fixer 26 is sequentially set up. And the content ofscanner ready memory unit 30, i.e., the content of the SCR₋₋ RDY flag,is checked to see whether or not it is 1 (5), and if the answer is YES,the laser quantity adjustment is started without waiting for the scannerready state. Next, the high voltage is turned off (7), and the procedurewaits for the completion of light quantity adjustment (8). And thedeveloping high voltage in the developer 24 is turned on (9). Then adetermination is made whether or not the rotation state of scanner motor27 is in a ready state (10), in which if the answer is YES, theprocedure proceeds to step (14), while if the answer is NO, adetermination is made whether or not the scanner failure detection timercount-up is completed (11), in which if the answer is NO, the procedurereturns to step (10), while if the answer is YES, the SCN₋₋ RDY flag onthe scanner ready memory unit 30 is set to 0 (12), and the scannerfailure processing is performed (13).

On the other hand, if the answer is YES at step (10), the SCR₋₋ RDY flagon the scanner ready memory unit 30 is set to 1 (14), and the paper pickup is started (15). Next, the procedure waits for the resist sensor 11to detect the leading end of paper (16), and if the paper is detected, avertical synchronizing request signal VSREQ is output to the printcontroller 15, after the passage of a predetermined time T₀ sec (18).Next, if a vertical synchronizing signal VSYNC is received from theprint controller 15 (19), the image print is started (20). Then if thepaper discharge sensor 13 detects the completion of paper discharge(21), the motor and high voltage units are set up because of thecompletion of one page print, whereby the system is placed in the printrequest waiting state again.

On the other hand, if the determination is NO at step (5), it is checkedwhether the rotation state of scanner motor 27 is a ready state (22), inwhich if the answer is YES, the adjustment of semiconductor laser lightquantity is started (23), the developing high voltage is turned off (24)so that an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum1 with the laser emission at the light quantity adjustment is notdeveloped by the toner, and the procedure waits for the completion oflight quantity adjustment (24). Then if the light quantity adjustment iscompleted, the high voltage driver 18 turns on the high voltage for thedeveloper 24 (26), and then the procedure returns to step (14).

FIG. 13 is a timing chart for explaining one example of the printsequence with the print controller 15. Note that q1 to q5 show thetiming.

In the print waiting state (q1), if a print request signal is received(q2), the carrier motor, the scanner motor 27 and each high voltage areset up. The SCN₋₋ RDY flag (having a content of 1 in this example) onthe scanner ready memory unit 30 which was rewritten at the previousset-up is checked, and tile light quantity adjustment of semiconductorlaser is immediately started. Substantially in synchronism with thestart of light quantity adjustment, the developing high voltage isturned on or off. In this way, if the light quantity adjustment iscompleted and thus the scanner is ready (q3), the paper pick-up isstarted. Then waiting for the resist sensor 11 to have a paper, avertical synchronizing request signal VSREQ is output (q4). If avertical synchronizing signal VSYNC is received in accordance with thevertical synchronizing request signal VSREQ, the output of image data isstarted. Then if the print is ended, each high voltage is lowered, thecarrier motor and the scanner motor 27 are stopped (q5), and theprocedure is placed in the print waiting state again.

In this example, if the SCN₋₋ RDY flag is set to 1 at the initializationof the printer, the adjustment of light quantity can be made during theset-up of the scanner to print the first page after turning on thepower. On the contrary, if the SCN₋₋ RDY flag is set to 0, it is alsopossible to take a sequence of making the light quantity adjustmentafter the scanner has been set up to the ready state, only when thefirst page is printed after turning on the power.

Fourth example

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration ofan image forming apparatus in the fourth example, and the like numeralsrefer to the like parts in FIGS. 6 and 14.

In the figure, 32 is a nonvolatile scanner ready memory unit into whichthe content of scanner ready memory unit 30 is stored when updated.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing one example of an essential printingprocedure in the image forming apparatus in the fourth example. Notethat (1) to (6) show each step.

First, the power is turned on, each function of the printer isinitialized (1). And when the initialization is ended, the memorycontent of the nonvolatile scanner ready memory unit 31 is read (2) andtransferred to the SCN₋₋ RDY flag in the scanner ready memory unit 30.Next, the fixer heater is set up (4). If the set-up of the fixer heateris completed (5), the printer is placed in a print 10 request receivingstate (6), and then the processing from the step (1) as shown in FIG. 12is performed. Note that when the content of the SCR₋₋ RDY flag in thescanner ready memory unit 30 is rewritten with a new data, the samecontent has been also transferred to the nonvolatile scanner readymemory unit 31. Hence, if the power might be turned off, the latestcontent of the SCN₋₋ RDY flag during the power on can be held, so thatthe light quantity control for the print of first page at the power oncan be surely carried out without waiting for the scanner ready, byreading and rewriting the content into the SCN₋₋ RDY flag in turning onthe power.

As above described, in the third and fourth examples, there are provideddirecting means for directing the drive/stop of a rotatable polygonmirror depending on whether or not there is any print request input fromthe external device, and memory means for storing the judgmentinformation for the completion of the set-up of a rotatable polygonmirror which is directed sequentially from the directing means to adesired speed while updating that information sequentially, bymonitoring the rotation speed of the rotatable polygon mirror for apredetermined period from the start of driving the rotatable polygonmirror, whereby it is possible to store the set-up completed statewithin a predetermined period immediately before the rotatable polygonmirror is started. Accordingly, it is possible to store and manage theinformation for determining the start timing for the adjustment of thelight beam before the next start of the rotatable polygon mirror.

Also, there are provided light quantity adjusting means for adjustingthe light quantity of light beam to a predetermined value, and controlmeans for controlling the timing of directing the start of lightquantity adjustment with the light quantity adjusting means, based onthe judgement information of set-up completion stored in the memorymeans, every time the directing means directs the rotatable polygonmirror to be driven in accordance with the print request, so that thelight quantity adjustment can be completed before the rotatable polygonmirror reaches a desired speed. Accordingly, an effect can be exhibitedthat the first print time from the reception of a print signal to thecompletion of print can be significantly improved.

Fifth example

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of essential parts for explaining theconfiguration of a recording apparatus in the fifth example of thepresent invention. A DC controller is composed of a CPU 101, a laserdriver 105, and a gate array 104, in which the CPU 101 outputs a scannermotor rotation start signal SCNON to a scanner driver board 102. 106 isa laser board composed of a semiconductor laser, not shown. The scannerdriver board 102 is composed of a control circuit 121, a driver 122, aphase comparator 123, and an amplifier 124. The gate array 10 iscomposed of a variable multistage frequency divider circuit 141, afrequency divider changeover circuit 142, and a video gate logic 143.Note that 103 is a scanner motor.

In FIG. 16, if the CPU 101 receives a print signal PRINT from thecontroller, the high voltage is turned on at each timing preset on eachhigh voltage unit, not specifically shown, to start the prerotationcontrol. On the other hand, the CPU 101 issues a scanner motor rotationstart signal SCNON to the scanner driver board 102, besides theprerotation control. If the control circuit 121 receives the scannermotor rotation start signal SCNON, it starts the PLL control, i.e.,outputs a motor current from the driver 122 to the scanner motor 103, inwhich a desired rotation number is set up by increasing or decreasingthe motor current so that the basic clock and a tack signal frequencyinput via the amplifier 124 from the scanner motor 103 are in phase bycomparing them in the phase comparator 123. And if the desired rotationnumber is set up, the control circuit 121 issues a scanner ready signalSCNRDY indicating the rotation lock state. The variable multistagefrequency divider circuit 141 in the gate array 104 outputs the basicclock to be supplied to the phase comparator 123 of the scanner driverboard 102 at a desired frequency, based on the output from the frequencydivider changeover circuit 142 in accordance with the set-up directed bythe CPU 101. That is, the clock supplied from an oscillator iscontrolled by the frequency divider changeover circuit 142 in accordancewith the content directed by the CPU 101, and the basic clock having adesired frequency is output by the variable multistage frequency dividercircuit 141.

On the other hand, the gate array 104 receives an image input signalfrom the controller, not shown, in which the image signal is synthesizedwith a control signal necessary for the LBP in the video gate logic 143,and output as an image signal VIDEO to the laser driver 105. Here, thecontent of the image signal VIDEO synthesized in the video gate logic143 will be described below.

The image signal VIDEO is a composite signal based on a timing signalfor lighting up the laser to obtain an image input signal from thecontroller, a light-up control signal for operating the laser APC asdescribed below, and a synchronizing signal BD which is a beam detectionsignal at a predetermined position in a main scan direction.

The laser driver 105 sets the laser light quantity on the laser board106 to a desired value with an instruction from the CPU 101. In thiscase, a desired light quantity can be set up in such a way as to turn onthe laser drive current (LD), detect the feedback voltage PD from a pinphotodiode for the detection of light quantity, and control the currentvalue for driving the laser (this control method is already known as alaser light quantity control (laser APC).) If the laser APC iscompleted, the laser light is basically turned on or off in accordancewith the image input signal from the controller.

In the recording apparatus as thus constituted, if detecting meansdetects a changing condition of the scan speed (by the phase comparisonbetween a tack signal output from the scanner motor 103 and a referencesignal in this example) with the scan optical system (including apolygon mirror, not shown, driven by the scanner motor 103), after thescan speed of the scan optical system reaches a desired scan speed,determining means (by a feature of the CPU 101 in this example)determines the scan speed stabilization time (which is a time for whichthe scan speed can be judged to be stable after the output of the SCNRDY, and after this time has passed, the print operation is enabled) forthe scan optical system based on the output of the detecting means,whereby it is possible to shorten the first print time.

Also, the determining means comprises monitor means (by a feature of theCPU 101) for monitoring a scan speed state signal output from thedetecting means for a predetermined period, and count means (an internaltimer of the CPU 101) for counting up the scan speed out-of-range timeof the scan optical system by monitoring the output of the detectingmeans while the monitor means monitors the scan speed state signal,whereby the determining means determines the scan speed stabilizationtime based on a count value counted up by the count means, therebyshortening the first print time.

FIGS. 17A to 17C are timing charts showing the set-up characteristics ofthe scanner motor 103, with the axis of abscissas indicating the time,and the axis of ordinates indicating the rotation number. Note that abroken line width portion shows a set rotation range, in which theset-up characteristics shown in FIG. 17A corresponds to a case where ittakes a significant amount of time to converge the number of rotationseven if a set rotation number is once reached, and in which the scanspeed stabilization time must be set up with the summation of a timeoutside the set rotation range and a convergence time t1 (convergencemonitoring time within the set rotation range) after reaching the setrotation range, the set-up characteristics shown in FIG. 17B correspondsto a case where it takes only a slight amount of time to converge thenumber of rotations if a set rotation number is once reached, and inwhich the scan speed stabilization time must be set up with the total ofa time outside the set rotation range and a converging time t2(convergence monitoring time within the set rotation range) afterreaching the set rotation range, and the set-up characteristics shown inFIG. 17C corresponds to a case where once a set rotation number isreached, that is, lies within the set rotation range, the scan speedstabilization time must be set up with a converging time t3 (convergencemonitoring time within the set rotation range). Note that theconvergence monitoring time t1˜t3 within the set rotation range issubstantially constant, irrespective of the service conditions ordifferences between devices such as the scanner motor, and for the LBP,it lies within a range from about 0.2 to 0.3 sec. Accordingly, if thetime outside the set rotation range is calculated, the scan speedstabilization time can be set up.

Thus, basically, it is possible to shorten variably the scan speedstabilization time during which the scan speed can be stabilized, whichwas conventionally uniquely set, in such a way that once the setrotation number is reached, the scanner ready signal SCNRDY from thescanner motor is monitored for a period of 0.3 sec, for example, thetime NOTRDY indicating the time outside the set rotation range of thescanner during the monitor period is accumulated, and the scan speedstabilization time is extended by the amount of accumulated time afterthe completion of the monitor time. Note that when the convergence cannot be made with the above control, the set-up can be always made byrepeating the procedure several times. The practical set-upcharacteristics are the characteristics as shown in FIG. 17A or 17B inmost cases, and once the monitor time+time NOTRDY is executed, therotation can be converged stably for almost all the scanner motors,whereby the scan speed stabilization time can be significantlyshortened.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing one example of a predetermined procedurefor scanner motor set-up control in the recording apparatus as shown inFIG. 16. Note that (1) to (20) show each step.

As this program adopts a monitor program method which is capable ofmaking the parallel processing of each sequence routine, each sequenceroutine program scans another program sequentially, separated by theENTER/ESCP. This monitor program capable of the parallel processing isquite common, and is not limited to that of the present invention.Particularly, in this example, the ENTER starts the program at anaddress stored in the memory content specified by a memory table (with aCALL statement from the specified address). The ESCP is defined to storean address for starting the program at the next ENTER into a specifiedmemory table and return to the address where it is entered (RETURNstatement).

The routine waits for a print signal indicating the execution of printto be turned on by a print routine called by a main routine notspecifically described (1), in which if the answer is NO, the ESCPprocessing routine is executed (2), and the return to step (1) is made.

On the other hand, if the determination at step (1) is YES, the rotationof scanner is indicated with a scanner motor rotation start signal SCNONas the print preparatory operation (3). Then it is judged whether or notthe rotation of scanner has once reached a set rotation number,depending on whether or not the scanner ready signal SCNRDY is in the ONstate (4), in which if the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine isexecuted (5), and the return to step (4) is made. On the other hand, ifthe determination at step (4) is YES, the ready monitor time is set to atimer A of the CPU 1 (6). Then it is checked whether or not the timer Ahas confirmed the time-up (7), in which if the answer is NO, it ischecked whether or not the scanner ready signal SCNRDY is in the ONstate (8). If the answer is NO, the accumulation time is accumulated ina timer B for counting up the time NOTRDY (9), while if the answer isYES, the count up of the timer B is stopped (10). Then the ESCPprocessing routine is executed (11), and the return to step (7) is made.

On the other hand, if the determination at step (7) is YES, the timer Bis counted down (12). And it is checked again whether or not the scannerready signal SCNRDY is in the ON state (13), in which if the answer isYES, namely, in the set-up characteristics as shown in FIG. 17B, it ischecked whether or not the timer B is at the time-up (14), and if theanswer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (15), while if theanswer is YES, the scanner is judged to be in the ready state, and thetransfer to subsequent print sequence is made. That is, a verticalsynchronizing request signal VSNREQ, which is a signal indicating aready state for the reception of image signal, is output to thecontroller.

On the other hand, if the determination at step (13) is NO, the timer Bis incremented again (17). And a determination is made whether or notthe content of counter B reaches a predetermined value (18), in which ifthe answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (19), and thereturn to step (6) is made, while if the answer is YES, the scannerfailure processing routine is executed (20), and then the transfer tosubsequent print sequence is made. Therefore, in the set-upcharacteristics as shown in FIG. 17C, namely, when the scanner readysignal SCNRDY has not been received during an extended time, thedetermination at step (13) will result in NO, and the step (17) and thefollowings are executed. With such a control, the scan speedstabilization time, which was 1 sec in most cases, can be shortenedwithin a time of 0.4 to 0.5 sec. In any case, the scan speedstabilization time from the reception of print signal PRINT can be madewithin 1 sec.

While the above fifth example has been described in conjunction with acase wherein once a set rotation number is reached, the scanner readystate of the scanner motor 103 is monitored with a scanner ready signalSCNRDY for a predetermined time, the scanner not ready time NOTRDY ofthe scanner occurring during that monitor period is accumulated, and thescan speed stabilization time is variably set to the accumulated timeafter the completion of the monitor time, it can be also configured insuch a way that once the set rotation number is reached, the scannerready signal SCNRDY from the scanner motor 103 is monitored for apredetermined period, and if the scanner ready signal SCNRDY of thescanner is turned OFF during that monitor time, the monitor time isreset immediately to extend the monitor time so that the scan speedstabilization time is variably set.

That is, the scan speed stabilization time can be determined with theprocedure as shown in FIG. 19, by comprising determining means (by afeature of the CPU 101 in this example), and remonitor setting means (bya feature of the CPU 101 in this example) for setting the remonitor timeto monitor means (by a feature of the CPU 101 in this example) whilejudging whether or not the scan speed of the scan optical system is outof range by monitoring the output from the detecting means during themonitoring of scan speed state signal with the monitor means, whereinthe scan speed stabilization time of the scan optical system can bedetermined after the passage of the remonitor time to be set with thisremonitor setting means or a predetermined time.

Sixth example

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing one example of a predetermined procedurefor scanner motor set-up control in the recording apparatus according tothe sixth example of the present invention. Note that (1) to (14) showeach step.

The routine waits for a print signal indicating the execution of printto be turned on by a print routine called by a main routine notspecifically described (1). If the print signal is not turned on, theESCP processing routine is executed (2), and the return to step (1) ismade.

On the other hand, if the determination at step (1) is YES, the rotationof scanner is indicated with a scanner motor rotation start signal SCNONas the print preparatory operation (3). Then it is judged whether or notthe rotation of scanner has once reached a set rotation number,depending on whether or not the scanner ready signal SCNRDY is in the ONstate (4), in which if the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine isexecuted (5), and the return to step (4) is made. On the other hand, ifthe determination at step (4) is YES, the ready monitor time is set to atimer A of the CPU 1 (6). Then it is checked whether or not the timer Ahas confirmed the time-up (7), in which if the answer is NO, it ischecked whether or not the scanner ready signal SCNRDY is in the ONstate (8). If the answer is YES, the ESCP processing routine is executed(9), and the return to step (7) is made. On the other hand, if thedetermination is NO at step (8), the counter is incremented (10), andthen it is judged whether or not the counter value has reached apredetermined value (11), in which if the answer is NO, the ESCPprocessing routine is executed (12) and the return to step (6) is made,while if the answer is YES, the scanner failure processing routine isexecuted (13) and the transfer to subsequent print sequence is made.

On the other hand, if the determination at step (7) is YES, the scanneris judged to be in the ready state (14), and the transfer to subsequentprint sequence is made.

In this way, the scanner ready signal SCNRDY is monitored during apreset monitor time, in which with the set-up characteristics as shownin FIG. 17A, for example, it is judged that the scanner motor rotationreaches a set value and is converged stably at the time when the monitoris completed (YES at step (7)), and the transfer to subsequent printsequence is made. Also, with the set-up characteristics as shown in FIG.17B, the scanner rotation failure detection processing (steps (8) to(10)-(13)) is executed in the same way as in the above example, and theroutine returns to step (6) where the monitor time is set again. And ifthe monitor time is terminated, it is judged that the scanner motorrotation reaches a set value and is converged stably, and the transferto subsequent print sequence is made. Note that as the scanner not readytime NOTRDY is a slight time in this example, the convergence iscompleted in a value almost equal to the monitor set-up time.Furthermore, with the set-up characteristics (c) as shown in FIG. 17,the monitor time during which the scanner rotation can be convergedstably is set several times, repeatedly, and in practice, theconvergence can be terminated with the total time of a time for whichthe scanner rotation is converged stably and the monitor time. With theabove control, the scan speed stabilization time, which was 1 secpreviously, can be made within a time of 0.4 to 0.5 sec in most cases.

While the fifth and sixth examples have been described in conjunctionwith a case wherein the determination is made based on the changingcondition of the scan speed, or the rotation speed condition (scannerready signal SCNRDY) of the scanner motor 103 for driving the scanoptical system, the scan speed stabilization time can be also set byobtaining the changing information based on the variation of rotationspeed, like the above examples. An example in which the stableconvergence of the scan speed is judged from the changing condition ofthe power to be supplied to the scanner motor will be described below asthe seventh example with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21.

Seventh example

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of essential parts for explaining theconfiguration of a recording apparatus in the seventh example of thepresent invention, wherein the like numerals refer to the like parts inFIGS. 16 and 20.

In FIG. 20, 108 is detecting means for detecting the changing conditionof the scan speed, which is constituted of a window comparator 109 and adetecting unit 110, which is composed of resistors R1 to R3, and anoperational amplifier OP1, with the electric current to be supplied tothe scanner driver board 102 being converted into its drop voltage witha resistor R1 having a quite small resistance and amplified by theoperational amplifier OP1. The window comparator 109, constituted ofresistors R4 to R6, and operational amplifiers OP2, OP3, compares thedrop voltage value amplified by the operational amplifier OP1 of thedetecting unit 110 with a predetermined range value, and outputs a rockon signal ROCK ON to the CPU 101 at the time when the drop voltage isconverged to the predetermined range value. With such a constitution,the consumed current of the scanner motor 103 shows a large currentvalue when the rotation is started, and decreases gradually withincreasing rotation number. And when a set rotation number is reached,it shows a constant current value. However, where the set rotationnumber is reached, the slight adjustment of the current is made toconverge the rotation. This minute current change is detected by thedetecting unit 110, amplified by the operational amplifier OP1, andconverted into digital form in the window comparator 109, which thenoutputs the ROCK ON signal to the CPU 101. The scan speed stabilizationtime can be set by processing the input state of this rock on signalROCK ON in accordance with a flowchart as shown in FIG. 21, as in thefifth and sixth examples.

In the recording apparatus as thus constituted, the detecting means 108detects the changing state of the scan speed from that of the electricpower to be supplied to the scan optical system, allowing a convergingvariation of the scanner motor rotation to be detected with the supplycurrent to the scanner motor 103, with a finer precision, whereby thescan speed stabilization time can be calculated in an optimal time.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing one example of a predetermined procedurefor scanner motor set-up control in the recording apparatus as shown inFIG. 20.

Note that (1) to (20) show each step. As this program adopts a monitorprogram method which is capable of making the parallel processing ofeach sequence routine, each sequence routine program scans anotherprogram sequentially, separated by the ENTER/ESCP. This monitor programcapable of the parallel processing is quite common, and is not limitedto that of the present invention. Particularly, in this example, theENTER starts the program at an address stored in the memory contentspecified by a memory table (with a CALL statement from the specifiedaddress). The ESCP is defined to store an address for starting theprogram at the next ENTER into a specified memory table and return tothe address where it is entered (RETURN statement).

The routine waits for a print signal indicating the execution of printto be turned on by a print routine called by a main routine notspecifically described (1). If the print signal is not turned on, theESCP processing routine is executed (2), and the return to step (1) ismade.

On the other hand, if the determination at step (1) is YES, the rotationof scanner is indicated with a scanner motor rotation start signal SCNONas the print preparatory operation (3). Then it is judged whether or notthe rotation of scanner has once reached a set rotation, depending onwhether or not the scanner ready signal SCNRDY is in the ON state (4),in which if the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed(5), and the return to step (4) is made. On the other hand, if thedetermination at step (4) is YES, the ready monitor time is set to atimer A of the CPU 101 (6). Then it is checked whether or not the timerA has confirmed the time-up (7), in which if the answer is NO, it ischecked whether or not the rock on signal ROCK ON is in the ON state(8). And if the answer is NO, the accumulation time is accumulated in atimer B for counting up the scanner not ready time NOTRDY (9), while ifthe answer is YES, the timer B accumulation count is stopped (10). Thenthe ESCP processing routine is executed (11) and the return to step (7)is made.

On the other hand, if the determination at step (7) is YES, the timer Bis counted down (12). And it is checked again whether or not the rock onsignal ROCK ON is in the ON state (13), in which if the answer is YES,namely, in the set-up characteristics as shown in FIG. 17B, it ischecked whether or not the timer B is at the time-up (14). And if theanswer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (15), while if theanswer is YES, the scanner is judged to be in the ready state (16), andthe transfer to subsequent print sequence is made. Also, in the set-upcharacteristics as shown in FIG. 17A, the transfer to step (16) isimmediately made, because the extended time is 0.

On the other hand, if the determination at step (13) is NO, the timer Bis incremented again (17). And a determination is made whether or notthe content of counter B has reached a predetermined value (18), inwhich if the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (19),and the return to step (6) is made, while if the answer is YES, thescanner failure processing routine is executed (20), and then thetransfer to subsequent print sequence is made. Therefore, in the set-upcharacteristics as shown in FIG. 17C, namely, when the scanner readysingal SCNRDY is not received during the extended time, thedetermination at step (13) will result in NO, in which the step (17) andthe followings are executed. With such a control, it is possible todetect a converging variation of the scanner motor rotation with thesupply current to the scanner motor 3, with a finer precision, wherebythe scan speed stabilization time can be calculated in an optimal time.

The detecting means as shown in the above seventh example is oneexample, in which alternatively it can detect a converging variation ofthe scanner motor rotation with the F/V conversion (frequency/voltageconversion) by using a tack signal for use in controlling the scannermotor rotation, for example, with the same control as in the seventhexample. Furthermore, it can also detect the converging variation withthe F/V conversion (frequency/voltage conversion) by using a horizontalsynchronizing signal (BD signal) which is a reference signal for writingthe image in the main scan direction, with the same control as in theseventh example.

As above described, according to the fourth to seventh examples, thereare provided detecting means for detecting a changing condition of thescan speed in the scan optical system, after the scan speed of the scanoptical system has reached a desired scan speed, and determining meansfor determining any scan speed stabilization time for the scan opticalsystem, based on the output of the detecting means, so that it ispossible to variably set the scan speed stabilization time which wasconventionally fixed at a set value in accordance with the set-upcharacteristics of the scan optical system.

Also, the determining means is provided with monitor means formonitoring a scan speed state signal output from the detecting means fora predetermined period, and count means for counting up the scan speedout-of-range time of the scan optical system by monitoring the output ofdetecting means while the monitor means monitors the scan speed statesignal, thereby determining any scan speed stabilization time based on acount value counted up by the count means, so that any scan speedstabilization time corresponding to the scan speed out-of-range time canbe determined.

Furthermore, determining means is provided with remonitor setting meansfor setting a remonitor time to monitor means while judging whether ornot the scan speed of the scan optical system is out of range bymonitoring the output from detecting means during the monitoring of ascan speed state signal with monitor means, thereby determining the scanspeed stabilization time of the scan optical system after the passage ofthe remonitor time to be set with this remonitor setting means for apredetermined time, so that when there is no scan speed out-of-range ofthe scan optical system within the monitor time, the optimal scan speedstabilization time can be determined immediately after the passage ofthe monitor time.

Since the detecting means detects a changing condition of the scan speedfrom that of the electric power to be supplied to the scan opticalsystem, a more precise detection is allowed, whereby the scan speedstabilization time can be calculated at optimum. Accordingly, even ifthe set-up characteristics of the scan optical system may be changedwith the service condition or variation with the passage of time, it isalways possible to determine an optimal smallest scan speedstabilization time, thereby exhibiting an excellent effect of largelyshortening the first print time as compared with a conventional one.

Eighth example

The block diagram showing the configuration of essential parts of arecording apparatus in the eighth example of the present invention isthe same as the fifth example (FIG. 16) as previously described, and theexplanation will be omitted.

In the recording apparatus according to this example, while the scanspeed information (ready signal SCNRDY in this example) of the scanoptical system output from a scan optical unit is monitored with monitormeans (phase comparator 123 in this example), directing means (controlcircuit 121 in this example) directs a judgment of whether the scanspeed of the scan optical system has reached a first scan speed set forwriting the image or a second scan speed set at a slower speed than thefirst scan speed, based on the output of the monitor means, in which ifthe second scan speed is directed with this judgment, authorizationmeans (CPU101) authorizes the light quantity adjustment with lightquantity adjusting means, performing the light quantity adjustment withthe light quantity adjusting means in parallel with the set-up of thescan optical system, whereby it is possible to shorten the first printtime.

Referring now to a flowchart as shown FIGS. 22 and 23, the controloperation for the start timing of light quantity adjustment in arecording apparatus according to this example will be described below.

FIGS. 22 and 23 are a series of flowcharts showing one example of thecontrol procedure for the light quantity adjustment start timing in therecording apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 22A,shows a main routine, and FIG. 22B shows a print routine, and in FIG.23A shows a prerotation routine, and FIG. 23B shows a laser routine.

As this program adopts a monitor program method which is capable ofmaking the parallel processing of each sequence routine, each sequenceroutine program scans another program, for example, routines as shown inFIG. 22B, FIGS. 23A and 23B, sequentially, separated by the ENTER/ESCP.This monitor program capable of the parallel processing is quite common,and is not limited to that of this example. In this example, the ENTERstarts the program at an address stored in the memory content specifiedby a memory table (with a CALL statement from the specified address).The ESCP is defined to store an address for starting the program at thenext ENTER into a specified memory table and return to the address whereit is entered (RETURN statement).

If the print routine is ENTERed at step (1) in the main routine as shownin FIG. 22A, the control is passed to the print routine as shown in FIG.22B. First, a determination is made whether or not there is any printrequest (print signal PRINT) (21), in which if the answer is NO, theESCP processing routine is executed (23), and the return to step (21) ismade. If the determination at step (21) is YES, a print paper is fed(22), the forward rotation flag which is a prerotation control requestflag is set to 1 (24), the setting for the frequency divider changeovercircuit 142 is performed to start the scanner motor 103 at a lowerrotation number (25), and the scanner motor rotation start signal SCNONis is turned on for the scanner driver board 102 (26). And adetermination is made whether or not the ready signal SCNRDY has beendetected at the lower rotation speed (27), in which if the answer is NO,the ESCP processing routine is executed (28), and the return to step(27) is made. The ESCP processing routine is repeatedly executed until aready signal SCNRDY is detected at step (27), thereby going andreturning to and from the main routine shown in FIG. 22A, so that theforward rotation routine shown in FIG. 22B is ENTERed from the mainroutine (2) to initiate the forward rotation routine as shown in FIG.23A, and at step (41), it is checked whether or not a request flag ofthe forward rotation control is 1. If the answer is NO, the ESCPprocessing routine is executed (42), then returning to step (1), whileif the answer is YES (the request flag is 1 at the print), the forwardrotation control is started (43). After the completion of the forwardrotation control, the request flag of the forward rotation flag is reset(44), and the print operation is executed. In the forward rotationcontrol at step (43), as the ESCP processing routine may be entered attimes, the return to the main routine is made at each time.

Next, at step (3) in the main routine as shown in FIG. 22A, the laserroutine as shown in FIG. 23B is ENTERed, in which a determination ismade whether or not the request flag of forward rotation control is 1(51). If the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (52),and the return to step (51) is made. In this case, the return to themain routine is caused with the ESCP routine until the forward rotationprocessing has been completed.

As above described, if the print signal is received, the scanner motorrotation and the forward rotation control are started. Since thecomparison between the scanner motor rotation and the forward rotationcontrol in this LBP indicates that the scanner motor rotation at lowerspeed is terminated more early than the forward rotation, as shown inFIG. 24, the ready signal SCNRDY at lower rotation speed is received atstep (27), and then the transfer is made to step (29), where therotation speed is switched to a rotation number to be set normally. Atstep (30), the laser flag is set to 1 to allow the adjustment of laserlight quantity, because the scanner rotation has been determined. Thenthe routine proceeds to steps (31) to (33) in a conventional printsequence. On the other hand, in the laser routine, if the forwardrotation processing is terminated, the routine transfers to step (53) ofthe laser routine (b) as shown in FIG. 23, where a determination is madewhether or not a preset laser flag is 1. While the recording apparatus(laser beam printer) of this example has a relatively long forwardrotation processing time, it is noted that the LBP having a shorterforward rotation processing time is needed to compare the time of theforward rotation processing with that of the scanner low speed rotationprocessing at steps (51) and (53). And if the determination at step (53)is YES, the routine transfers to step (54), where a set-up sequence forthe adjustment of laser light quantity is executed, and after the resetof the laser flag (55), the return to the main routine is caused withthe ESCP processing routine. If the determination is NO, the laser APCcontrol is executed (57), and the transfer is made to step (56), wherethe return to the main routine is caused with the ESCP processingroutine.

With such a control, the print preparatory operation can be completed ina shorter time, as shown in FIGS. 24A & 24B, thereby allowing the firstprint time to be greatly shortened.

Ninth example

While the above example has been described in conjunction with a casewherein the scanner motor rotation is classified into the low speedrotation and the high speed rotation being set, and the laser lightquantity control is started with the set-up of the low speed rotation asthe reference timing, the present invention is easily applicable to acase where the image is recorded with the resolution corresponding toany of set resolutions, for example, 240, 300, 400, 600 (DPI (dot perinch)), in the recording apparatus having resolution switching meanscapable of switching the image density easily. This switching ofresolution is carried out by switching the resolution in the main scandirection easily with the CPU 101 which changes the frequency dividingratio for the variable multistage frequency divider circuit 141 as shownin FIG. 16.

In the recording apparatus as thus constituted, if the scan opticalsystem is started with a first scan speed set for the scan opticalsystem, based on a resolution indicated by switching means (CPU 101),directing means (control circuit 21) directs to the CPU 101 a judgmentof whether or not the scan motor reaches a second scan speed, when itreaches any first scan speed which can be set at a slower speed than thefirst scan speed set by the switching means, and if the second scanspeed is directed, authorization means (by the CPU 101) authorizes theadjustment of light quantity, in which the light quantity adjustmentwith the light quantity adjusting means is performed in parallel withthe set-up of the scan optical system, thereby shortening the firstprint time.

In this case, as shown in the timing charts of FIGS. 24A & 24B, when theresolution at which the rotation is effected at a rotation number D(greatest rotation number to be set) is specified, the adjustment oflaser light quantity can be completed at the desired rotation number Din such a way as to control the adjustment of laser light quantity to bestarted upon detecting that a rotation number A (smallest rotationnumber to be set) is reached. While this example has been described inconjunction with a case wherein the set-up is first made at the lowestrotation number, and the rotation speed is switched to a desiredrotation number after the ready signal SCNRDY is turned on, it may besufficient if the scanner motor is set up at a lower rotation numberthan the desired rotation number, but no necessarily at the lowestrotation number. Since the print preparatory operation can be fulfilledin a shorter time without switching, as shown in FIGS. 24A & 24B, whenthe desired rotation number is the lowest rotation number, it ispossible not to make the switching at low rotation speed.

While the above eighth and ninth examples have been described inconjunction with a case wherein the laser light quantity adjustmentcontrol is started by referring to the ready signal SCNRDY output fromthe scanner driver board 102, the laser light quantity adjustmentcontrol may be started by referring to the tack signal TAC of thescanner motor 103. That case will be described below.

Tenth example

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing the configuration of essential partsfor a recording apparatus in the tenth example of the present invention.The like numerals refer to the like parts in FIGS. 16 and 25.

As shown in this figure, a different point from the fifth example (FIG.16) is that the tack signal TAC (tack signal for the detection of thescanner motor rotation number) output from the amplifier 124 is inputinto the CPU 101, in which this tack signal TAC is a signal detected byHall elements contained in the scanner motor 3, and if the frequency ofthe tack signal TAC is detected to have reached a predeterminedfrequency by detecting the change of frequency, the set-up control oflaser light quantity is started. Note that in this example, the variablemultistage frequency divider circuit 141 and the frequency dividerchangeover circuit 142 in the gate array 104 are unnecessary with theoperation, but may be provided for other operations.

Referring now to the flowcharts as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the controloperation for the light quantity adjustment start timing in therecording apparatus according to this example will be described below.

FIG. 26A shows a main routine, and FIG. 26B shows a print routine, andFIG. 27A shows a prerotation routine, and FIG. 27B shows a laserroutine.

As this program adopts a monitor program method which is capable ofmaking the parallel processing of each sequence routine, each sequenceroutine program scans another program, for example, routines as shown inFIG. 26B, FIGS. 27A and 27B, sequentially, separated by the ENTER/ESCP.This monitor program capable of the parallel processing is quite common,and is not limited to that of this example. In this example, the ENTERstarts the program at an address stored in the memory content specifiedby a memory table (with a CALL statement from the specified address).The ESCP is defined to store an address for starting the program at thenext ENTER into a specified memory table and return to the address whereit is entered (RETURN statement).

If the print routine is ENTERed at step (1) in the main routine as shownin FIG. 26A the control is passed to the print routine as shown in FIG.26B. First, a determination is made whether or not there is any printrequest (print signal PRINT) (21), in which if the answer is NO, theESCP processing routine is executed (23), and the return to step (21) ismade. If the determination at step (21) is YES, a print paper is fed(22), the forward rotation flag which is a prerotation control requestflag is set to 1 (24), the scanner motor 103 is started (25), and theroutine waits for the tack signal TAC to the input (26) for thesynchronization with the tack signal TAC, in which if the tack signal isnot input, the ESCP processing routine is executed (27), and the returnto step (26) is made.

On the other hand, if there is any input tack signal TAC at step (26),an internal timer of the CPU 101 is set at a predetermined time (28),and the timer is started. Note that the timer routine is notspecifically described, but it is a quite common timer routine, which isdecremented at the time of a timer interrupt if the timer value has beenset, and stopped if the data value becomes 0. Next, a determination ismade whether or not the next tack signal TAC has been input (29), inwhich if the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (30),and the return to step (29) is made, while if the answer is YES, adetermination is made whether or not the timer count operation iscompleted (31). If the answer is NO, the return to step (26) is made,while if the answer is YES (operating while the timer data value is not0), the laser flag is set to 1 (32).

Thereby, the forward rotation routine as shown in FIG. 27B ENTERed fromthe main routine (2) in the processing of step (30), to initiate theforward rotation routine as shown in FIG. 27A and at step (41), it ischecked whether or not a request flag of the forward rotation controlis 1. If the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (42),and the return to step (1) is made, while if the answer is YES (therequest flag is 1 at the print), the forward rotation control is started(43). After the completion of the forward rotation control, the requestflag of the forward rotation control is reset (44), and the printoperation is executed. Note that the content of the forward rotationcontrol is not specifically related to the present invention, andtherefore the explanation will be omitted. Also, in the forward rotationcontrol at step (43), the ESCP processing routine may be entered attimes, and the return to the main routine is made at each time.

Next, at step (3) in the main routine as shown in FIG. 26A, the laserroutine as shown in FIG. 27B is ENTERed, and a determination is madewhether or not the request flag of forward rotation control is 1 (51),in which if the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed(52), and the return to step (51) is made. In this case, the return tothe main routine is caused with the ESCP routine until the forwardrotation processing has been completed in the forward rotation routineshown in FIG. 27B.

If the forward rotation processing is terminated, the routine transfersto step (53) of the laser routine as shown in FIG. 27B, where adetermination is made whether or not a preset laser flag is 1. If theanswer is YES, the routine transfers to step (54), where the set-upsequence for the adjustment of laser light quantity is executed, andafter the reset of the laser flag (55), the return to the main routineis caused with the ESCP processing routine, while if the answer is NO,the laser APC control is executed (57), and the routine proceeds to step(56), where the return to the main routine is caused with the ESCPprocessing routine.

In this way, at steps (26) to (31), it is possible to detect the timingof attaining a predetermined frequency of the motor tack signal whosefrequency will increase along with the scanner motor rotation number.Accordingly, it is possible to detect the timing at which the opticalscan is securely enabled after starting of the scanner motor 103, priorto reaching a desired scan speed, and the set-up of laser light quantityis more promptly allowed, thereby shortening the first print time.

While this example has been described in conjunction with a case whereinthe light quantity control of laser light source is set up at a desiredtiming while the CPU 101 is directly monitoring the input frequency ofthe tack signal TAC for the scanner motor 103, the tack signal detectioncircuit 7 may be provided as the external circuit, as shown in FIG. 28and described below.

Eleventh example

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the configuration of essential partsfor a recording apparatus in the eleventh example of the presentinvention. The like numerals refer to the like parts in FIGS. 16 and 28.

In this figure, 107 is a tack signal detection circuit, which inputs thetack ready signal TACRDY to the CPU 101 if it detects a preset frequencyto be reached by monitoring the frequency of the tack signal TAC for thescanner motor 103.

Note that the variable multistage frequency divider circuit 141 and thefrequency divider changeover circuit 142 of the gate array 104 areunnecessary with the operation, but may be provided for otheroperations.

In this example, along with the rotation of the scanner motor 103, thetack signal detection circuit 107 detects that the tack signal TAC whichis detected by Hall elements contained in the scanner motor 103 hasreached a predetermined frequency, so that the set-up control of laserlight quantity is performed. Note that the tack signal detection circuit107 is the same as a quite common phase comparator contained in thescanner driver board 102, and is configured such that if a desired rangeis reached by the comparison with the basic clock, the tack ready signalTACRDY is generated, but it is not limited to such a configuration, andmay be configured in another way if the frequency of the tack signal TACcan be detected.

Referring now to the flowcharts as shown in FIGS. 29A, 29B and 30, thecontrol operation of light quantity adjustment start timing in therecording apparatus according to this example will be described below.

In FIG. 29A shows a main routine, and FIG. 29B shows a print routine,and in FIG. 30A shows a prerotation routine, and FIG. 30B shows a laserroutine.

If the print routine is ENTERed at step (1) in the main routine as shownin FIG. 29A, the control is passed to the print routine as shown in FIG.29B. First, a determination is made whether or not there is any printrequest (print signal PRINT) (21), in which if the answer is NO, theESCP processing routine is executed (23), and the return to step (21) ismade, while if the answer is YES, a print paper is fed (22), the forwardrotation flag which is a prerotation control request flag is set to 1(24), the scanner motor 103 is started (25), and the routine waits forthe tack ready signal TACRDY to be input (26). If the answer is NO, theESCP processing routine is executed (27), and the return to step (26) ismade.

On the other hand, if there is any input tack ready signal TACRDY atstep (26), the laser flag is set to 1 (28), and then, a determination ismade whether or not the ready signal SCNRDY is 1 (29), in which if theanswer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (30), and thereturn to step (29) is made, while if the answer is YES, the imagesignal transmit request signal VSNREQ is turned on (31), and the printroutine is continued.

Thereby, the forward rotation routine shown in FIG. 30B is ENTERed fromthe main routine (2) in the processing of step (30), to initiate theforward rotation routine as shown in FIG. 30A, and at step (41), it ischecked whether or not a request flag of the forward rotation controlis 1. If the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (42),and the return to step (41) is made, while if the answer is YES (therequest flag is 1 at the print), the forward rotation control is started(43). After the completion of the forward rotation control, the requestflag of the forward rotation control is reset (44), and the printoperation is executed. Note that the content of the forward rotationcontrol is not specifically related to the present invention, andtherefore the explanation will be omitted. Also, in the forward rotationcontrol at step (43), the ESCP processing routine is entered at times,and the return to the main routine is made at each time. At step (3) inthe main routine as shown in FIG. 29A, the laser routine as shown inFIG. 30B is ENTERed, and a determination is made whether or not therequest flag of forward rotation control is 1 (51), in which if theanswer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (52), and thereturn to step (51) is made. However, the return to the main routine iscaused with the ESCP routine until the forward rotation processing hasbeen completed in the forward rotation routine shown in FIG. 30A.

If the forward rotation processing is terminated, the routine transfersto step (53) of the laser routine as shown in FIG. 30B, where adetermination is made whether or not a preset laser flag is 1, in whichif the answer is YES, the routine transfers to step (54), where theset-up sequence for the adjustment of laser light quantity is executed,and after the reset of the laser flag (55), the return to the mainroutine is caused with the ESCP processing routine, while if the answeris NO, the laser APC control is executed (57), and the routine proceedsto step (56), where the return to the main routine is caused with theESCP processing routine. In this way, it is possible to detect thetiming at which the optical scan is securely enabled after starting ofthe scanner motor 103, prior to reaching a desired scan speed, andthereby make the set-up of laser light quantity more promptly.

While the above tenth and eleventh examples have been described inconjunction with a case wherein the laser light quantity set-up starttiming is controlled by detecting a scan speed variation in processingthe information originating from the tack signal TAC output from thescanner motor 3, it can be controlled in another way of detecting thescan speed variation from the detected frequency of a horizontalsynchronizing signal BD which generates a synchronizing signal in themain scan direction, while scanning the laser beam with a polygonmirror, not shown, which is driven by the scanner motor 3 as shown inFIG. 31.

Twelfth example

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing the configuration of essential partsfor a recording apparatus in the twelfth example of the presentinvention. The like numerals refer to the like parts in FIGS. 28 and 31.

In this figure, 108 is a BD signal detection circuit, comprising a lightreceiving unit constituted of photodiodes, not shown, in which if itreceives the laser light emitted from the laser board 106 and scanned bythe polygon mirror, not shown, it outputs a horizontal synchronizingsignal BD to the CPU 101. Note that in this example, for simplicity ofexplanation, the horizontal synchronizing signal BD is directly inputinto the CPU 101, but it may be input via a BD signal processing unitexisting in the gate array 104 into the CPU 101.

In the recording apparatus as thus constituted, the rotation of thescanner motor 103 can be monitored and detected for a proper operationby the CPU 101 which detects the frequency of horizontal synchronizingsignal BD, and its detection timing can be made prior to the set-up ofthe scanner motor 103, so that the set-up of laser light quantity can beperformed more promptly, thereby shortening the first print time. Thatis, the set-up of laser light quantity is controlled in accordance withthe procedure in the flowcharts as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, by the CPU101 judging that the frequency of horizontal synchronizing signal BD hasreached a predetermined frequency.

FIG. 32A shows a main routine, and FIG. 32B shows a print routine, andFIG. 33A shows a prerotation routine, and FIG. 33B shows a laserroutine. If the print routine is ENTERed at step (1) in the main routineas shown in FIG. 32A, the control is passed to the print routine asshown in FIG. 32B. First, a determination is made whether or not thereis any print request (print signal PRINT) (21), in which if the answeris NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed (23), and the return tostep (21) is made, while if the answer is YES, a print paper is fed(22), the forward rotation flag which is a prerotation control requestflag is set to 1 (24), the scanner motor 103 is started (25), and theroutine waits for the horizontal synchronizing signal BD to be input(26) for the synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signalBD. However, as the laser light is not emitted immediately at an earlytime of the start of rotation, the ESCP processing routine is executed(27) to return to the main routine as shown in FIG. 33A, where theforward rotation routine as shown in FIG. 33B is executed. At step (41),it is checked whether or not the request flag of the forward rotationcontrol is 1, in which if the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routineis executed (42), and the return to step (41) is made, while if theanswer is YES (request flag is 1 at the print), the forward rotationcontrol is started (43), the forward rotation flag is set to 0 (44), andthe laser is set up at a quite minute light quantity (up to a laserthreshold current value referred to as a laser emission point at a lightquantity having no effects on the photosensitive drum) (45). Note thatthis set-up control is performed with the laser APC which is alreadyknown, and therefore the explanation will be omitted. And if the laseris set up, the reception of the horizontal synchronizing signal BD isallowed so that at step (26) of the print routine as shown in FIG. 32B,the input of horizontal synchronizing signal BD is confirmed. As aresult, if the horizontal synchronizing signal BD has been input, aninternal timer of the CPU 101 is set at a predetermined time value, andthe timer is started. Note that the timer routine is not specificallydescribed, but it is a quite common timer routine, which is decrementedat the time of a timer interrupt if the timer value has been set, andstopped if the data value becomes 0.

Then, a determination is made whether or not the next horizontalsynchronizing signal BD is input (29), in which if the answer is NO, theESCP processing routine is executed (30), and the return to step (29) ismade, while if the answer is YES, a determination is made whether or notthe timer count operation is completed (31). If the answer is NO, theroutine returns to step (26), while if the answer is YES (operatingwhile the timer value is not 0), the laser flag is set to 1 (32).

Next, at step (3) in the main routine as shown in FIG. 32A, the laserroutine as shown in FIG. 33B is ENTERed, and a determination is madewhether or not the request flag of forward rotation control is 1 (51),in which if the answer is NO, the ESCP processing routine is executed(52), and the return to step (51) is made. However, the return to themain routine is caused with the ESCP routine until the forward rotationprocessing has been completed in the forward rotation routine as shownin FIG. 33A.

If the forward rotation processing is terminated, the routine transfersto step (53) of the laser routine as shown in FIG. 33B, where adetermination is made whether or not a preset laser flag is 1, in whichif the answer is YES, the routine transfers to step (54), where theset-up sequence for the adjustment of laser light quantity is executed,and after the reset of the laser flag (55), the return to the mainroutine is caused with the ESCP processing routine, while if the answeris NO, the laser APC control is executed (57), and the routine proceedsto step (56), where the return to the main routine is caused with theESCP processing routine.

As above described, at steps (26) to (31) of the print routine as shownin FIG. 32B, it is possible to detect the timing at which the horizontalsynchronizing signal BD attains a predetermined frequency, when thefrequency of the rotation number for the scanner motor 103 is increased.

Accordingly, it is possible to detect the timing at which the opticalscan is securely enabled after starting of the scanner motor 103, priorto reaching a desired scan speed, and make the set-up of laser lightquantity more promptly, thereby shortening the first print time. Ofcourse, it will be appreciated in this example that the detectionconfiguration of the horizontal synchronizing signal BD can beimplemented in the hardware by the use of a phase comparator.

As above described, in the eighth to twelfth examples, there areprovided monitor means for monitoring a predetermined state signalvarying with the drive of the scan optical system, directing means fordirecting a judgment of whether the scan speed of the scan opticalsystem reaches a first scan speed set for writing the image or a secondscan speed set at a lower speed than the first scan speed, based on theoutput of the monitor means, and authorization means for authorizing thelight quantity adjustment with the light quantity adjusting means, atthe time when the second scan speed is reached, as directed by thedirecting means, so that the light quantity adjustment can be performedin parallel with the set-up of the scan optical system by detecting thatthe scan speed of the scan optical system reaches a second scan speed,without largely changing the constitution of a conventional scan opticalsystem.

Also, there are provided switching means for switching a plurality offirst scan speeds for the scan optical system, based on a directedresolution, and directing means for directing a judgment of whether ornot the scan motor reaches a second scan speed, at the time when itreaches any one of first scan speeds which can be set at lower speedthan the first scan speed, switched by the switching means, so that aspecific second scan speed corresponding to the first scan speed setbased on the directed resolution can be selected from the plurality offirst scan speeds for setting, whereby it is possible to easily detectwhether or not a desired second scan speed is reached without largelychanging the hardware.

Furthermore, there are provided signal generating means for generating asynchronizing signal in the main scan direction by receiving the lightscanned by the scan optical system, and monitor means for monitoring thefrequency change of the synchronizing signal in the main scan directionwhich is output from the signal generating means, so that thesynchronizing signal in the main scan direction can be utilized as apredetermined status signal varying with the drive of the scan opticalsystem, whereby the set-up of the light quantity adjustment can be madein parallel with the set-up of the scan optical system by detecting thatthe scan speed of the scan optical system reaches a desired second scanspeed, and only by changing the software.

Accordingly, it is possible to direct the start of light quantityadjustment during the set-up processing of the optical scan system,thereby having an effect that the first print time can be largelyshortened.

The present invention is not limited to the above example, but variousvariations can be made within the scopes of the claims. Also, theabove-described examples can be combined in any form, and theirvariation and combination are intended to be within a scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising:light beamgenerating means for generating a light beam; light quantity detectingmeans for detecting a light quantity of the light beam generated by saidlight beam generating means; adjusting means for adjusting the lightquantity of the light beam generated by said light beam generating meansin accordance with the detection of said light quantity detecting means;a rotational polygon mirror for scanning the light beam generated bysaid light beam generating means across a member to be illuminated;rotation detecting means for detecting whether or not a rotation numberof said rotational polygon mirror reaches a predetermined rotationnumber within a predetermined time after start of driving the rotationalpolygon mirror; and control means for controlling said light quantityadjusting means and said rotational polygon mirror, wherein said lightquantity adjusting means starts the light quantity adjustment, afterstarting the rotation of said rotational polygon mirror, and before saidrotation detecting means detects the rotation number of said rotationalpolygon mirror reaches the predetermined rotation number.
 2. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising memory meansfor storing a detected result by said rotation detecting means.
 3. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:aphotosensitive member on which a latent image is formed by scanning thelight beam deflected by said rotational polygon mirror; developing meansfor visualizing the latent image formed on said photosensitive member;and transfer means for transferring a visual image on saidphotosensitive member onto a recording sheet; wherein said apparatuscontrols at least one of said developing means or said transfer means sothat the latent image or the visualized image formed on saidphotosensitive member by the light quantity adjustment is not developedor transferred.
 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,wherein when the power of said apparatus is turned on, said rotationalpolygon mirror is caused to rotate and said memory means stores adetected result by said rotation detecting means.
 5. The image formingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rotational polygon mirroris caused to rotate at predetermined intervals at least in a standbystate and the detected result by said rotation detecting means is storedinto said memory means.
 6. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein said rotational polygon mirror starts to rotate inresponse to a print request signal output from means for producing saidimage information.
 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,further comprising:stock means for stocking a plurality of recordingsheets; and feed means for feeding said recording sheets stocked in saidstock means one sheet at a time; wherein said feed means starts a feedoperation prior to said print request signal when the detected resultstored in said memory means is positive.
 8. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein said apparatus stores a detected result ofsaid detecting means into said memory means when said rotational polygonmirror is rotated in response to a print request signal.
 9. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising nonvolatilememory means for storing the detected result by said rotation detectingmeans.
 10. An image forming apparatus comprising:light beam generatingmeans for generating a light beam; a rotational polygon mirror forscanning the light beam generated by said light beam generating meansacross a member to be illuminated; rotation detecting means fordetecting whether or not a rotation number of said rotational polygonmirror reaches a predetermined rotation number for image formationwithin a predetermined time after start of driving said rotationalpolygonal mirror; and memory means for storing a detected result by saidrotation detecting means.
 11. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 10, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the lightquantity of the light beam generated by said light beam generatingmeans, wherein said adjusting means starts the light quantityadjustment, in accordance with a storage content of said memory means,after starting rotation of said rotational polygon mirror, and beforesaid rotation detecting means detects that the rotation number of saidrotational polygon mirror reaches the predetermined rotation number. 12.The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:aphotosensitive member on which a latent image is formed by scanning thelight beam deflected by said rotational polygon mirror; developing meansfor visualizing the latent image formed on said photosensitive member;and transfer means for transferring a visual image on saidphotosensitive member onto a recording sheet; wherein said apparatuscontrols at least one of said developing means or said transfer means sothat the latent image or the visualized image formed on saidphotosensitive member by the light quantity adjustment is not developedor transferred.
 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10,wherein when the power of said apparatus is turned on, said rotationalpolygon mirror is caused to rotate and said memory means stores adetected result by said rotation detecting means.
 14. The image formingapparatus according to claim 10, wherein said rotational polygon mirroris caused to rotate at predetermined intervals at least in a standbystate and the detected result by said rotation detecting means is storedinto said memory means.
 15. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 10, wherein said rotational polygon mirror starts to rotate inresponse to a print request signal output from means for producing saidimage information.
 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim15, further comprising:stock means for stocking a plurality of recordingsheets; and feed means for feeding said recording sheets stocked in saidstock means one sheet at a time; wherein said feed means starts a feedoperation prior to said print request signal when the detected resultstored in said memory means is positive.
 17. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein said apparatus stores a detected result ofsaid detecting means into said memory means when said rotational polygonmirror is rotated in response to a print request signal.
 18. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising nonvolatilememory means for storing the detected result by said rotation detectingmeans.
 19. An image forming apparatus comprising:light beam generatingmeans for generating the light beam; a rotational polygon mirror forscanning the light beam generated by said light beam generating meansacross a member to be illuminated; rotation detecting means fordetecting whether or not a rotation number of said rotational polygonmirror reaches a predetermined rotation number for an image formation;and determining means for determining a stabilizing time needed forstabilizing the rotation of said rotational polygon mirror after saidrotation detecting means detects that the rotation number of saidrotational polygon mirror reaches the predetermined rotation number. 20.The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, furthercomprising:input means for inputting the image information sent by anexternal apparatus; and output means for outputting a signalrepresenting an image information receivable state when the stabilizingtime determined by said determining means has elapsed.
 21. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said rotation detectingmeans detects that the rotation number of said rotational polygon mirrorlies within a predetermined range, and said determining means determinesthe stabilizing time.
 22. The image forming apparatus according to claim21, wherein said determining means determines the stabilizing time basedon a detected result of said detecting means for a predetermined monitortime after the rotation number of said rotational polygon mirror reachesthe predetermined range.
 23. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 22, wherein said determining means determines the stabilizing timewithin said monitor time in accordance with a time when the rotationnumber of said rotational polygon mirror is out of said predeterminedrange.
 24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, whereinsaid monitor time is extended based on the detected output of saiddetecting means for said monitor time.
 25. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 23, wherein said apparatus performs an errorprocessing when an accumulated time for which the rotation number ofsaid rotational polygon mirror is out of said predetermined rangeexceeds a predetermined value.
 26. The image forming apparatus accordingto claim 23, wherein the rotation of said rotational polygon mirror iscontrolled by a phase locked loop method, and said rotation detectingmeans detects whether or not the phase is locked.
 27. The image formingapparatus according to claim 21, wherein said detecting means detectsthat the rotation number of said rotational polygon mirror lies withinthe predetermined range, based on a supply power for the rotation ofsaid rotational polygon mirror.
 28. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 21, wherein the stabilizing time terminates when therotation number of said rotational polygon mirror lies within thepredetermined range for a predetermined period.
 29. An image formingapparatus comprising:light beam generating means for generating a lightbeam; adjusting means for adjusting a light quantity of the light beamgenerated by said light beam generating means; a rotational polygonmirror for scanning the light beam generated by said light beamgenerating means across a member to be illuminated; rotation detectingmeans for detecting whether said rotational polygon mirror rotates at afirst rotation number or a second rotation number greater than the firstrotation number; and control means for controlling said light quantityadjusting means and said rotational polygon mirror, wherein when saidrotational polygon mirror should be rotated at the second rotationnumber, said light quantity adjusting means can start adjusting thelight quantity in response to the detection of said rotational polygonmirror rotating at the first rotational number.
 30. The image formingapparatus according to claim 29, wherein said rotational polygon mirrorcan be stably driven in rotation at said first and second rotationnumbers.
 31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 30, whereinsaid apparatus can perform the image forming at two different first andsecond resolutions, said first and second rotation numbers correspondingto said first and second resolutions, respectively.
 32. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said rotation detectingmeans has a beam detector for detecting the light beam deflected by saidrotational polygon mirror at a predetermined position, and detects thatsaid rotational polygon mirror is rotated at least the first rotationnumber, based on the output of said beam detector.
 33. The image formingapparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a tacho-signalgenerating means, said rotation detecting means detecting that saidrotational polygon mirror is rotating at at least the first rotationnumber, based on the frequency of said tacho-signal.
 34. An imageforming apparatus comprising:light beam generating means for generatinga light beam; a rotational polygon mirror for scanning the light beamgenerated by said light beam generating means across a member to beilluminated; detecting means for detecting when a rotation number ofsaid rotational polygon mirror reaches a rotation number for imageformation; adjusting means for adjusting a light quantity of the lightbeam generated by said light beam generating means, said light quantityadjustment being performed prior to a detection that a rotation numberof said rotational polygon mirror reaches the rotation number for theimage formation; and means for inhibiting modulation of the light beamwith an image signal until the rotation of said rotational polygonmirror is stabilized even after the detection that the rotation numberof said rotational polygon mirror reaches the rotation number for theimage formation.
 35. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34,further comprisingmemory means for storing a result detected by saidrotation detecting means.
 36. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 34, further comprising:a photosensitive member on which a latentimage is formed by scanning the light beam deflected by said rotationalpolygon mirror; developing means for visualizing the latent image formedon said photosensitive member; and transfer means for transferring avisual image on said photosensitive member onto a recording sheet,wherein said apparatus controls at least one of said developing meansand said transfer means so that the latent image is not visualized andthe visualized image is not transferred.
 37. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 35, wherein when the power of said apparatus isturned on, said rotational polygon mirror is caused to rotate and saidmemory means stores a result detected by said rotation detecting means.38. The image forming apparatus according to claim 35, wherein saidrotational polygon mirror is caused to rotate at predetermined intervalsat least in a standby state and the detected result by said rotationdetecting means is stored into said memory means.
 39. The image formingapparatus according to claim 35, further comprising:an image signalgenerating source, wherein said rotational polygon mirror starts torotate in response to a print request signal output from said imagesignal generating source.
 40. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 39, further comprising:stock means for stocking a plurality ofrecording sheets; and feed means for feeding said recording sheetsstocked in said stock means one sheet at a time, wherein said feed meansstarts a feed operation prior to said print request signal when thedetected result stored in said memory means is positive.
 41. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said apparatus stores adetected result of said detecting means into said memory means when saidrotational polygon mirror is rotated in response to a print requestsignal.
 42. The image forming apparatus according to claim 35, whereinsaid memory means comprises nonvolatile memory means.
 43. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 34, further comprisingdeterminingmeans for determining that the rotation number of said rotationalpolygon mirror has become stable.
 44. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 43, wherein said determining means determines thatthe rotation number of said rotational polygon mirror has become stablebased on a detected result of said detecting means for a predeterminedmonitor time after the rotation number of said rotational polygon mirrorreaches the predetermined rotation number.
 45. The image formingapparatus according to claim 43, wherein the rotation of said rotationalpolygon mirror is controlled by a phase locked loop method, and saidrotation detecting means detects whether or not the phase is locked. 46.The image forming apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said rotationdetecting means detects that the rotation number of said rotationalpolygon mirror lies within the predetermined range, based on a supplypower for the rotation of said rotational polygon mirror.
 47. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said determining meansdetermines that the rotation number of said rotational polygon mirrorhas become stable, in case where the rotation number of said rotationalpolygon mirror lies within the predetermined range for a predeterminedperiod.